Amenorrhea : Absence of a menstrual cycle in a woman for a period of 3 to 6 months

Denial of hunger

Limiting food intake

Calculating/counting calories

Cooking elaborate meals for others, but not eating the food

Consistent excuses to avoid meal times

Increased social isolation

Withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed

Defensive when confronted about weight and eating habits

Low energy and fatigue

Wearing layers of baggy clothes to hide weight loss

Use of Pro-Ana websites (internet websites that promote/support anorexia).

2. Bulimia:

Characterized by the presence of recurring episodes of food restriction followed by binge eating.

Binge eating can be characterized by the consumption of an unusually large amount of food in a relatively short amount of time.

Behaviours that follow bingeing are often meant to purge the body of food and prevent weight gain.

Signs and symptoms of bulimia :

Excessive exercise

Fasting

Severe restriction

Misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas

Self-induced vomiting

Bulimia signs and symptoms can vary between those linked to Anorexia and Binge Eating Disorder.

3. Binge Eating Disorder:

Characterized by episodes of intense compulsive eating

not followed by any compensatory measures, such as in bulimia.

Signs and symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder :

Eating very quickly

Eating regardless of hunger cues, even if one is already full

Eating until uncomfortably or painfully full

Eating alone due to embarassment about the type and quantity of food ingested

Feeling of self-disgust, guilt and depression

Food is linked to various emotional states (happiness, guilt, sadness, depression)

Food is seen as the enemy.

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS):

These incorporate behaviours associated with one or more eating disorders, without fitting into a specific category. They can correspond to behaviours associated with an obsession with food or with body image. Orthorexia and muscular dysmorphia are two examples.

Orthorexia:

An obsession with eating the “right” foods.

A lot of energy is put into choosing the foods that is believed to be the healthiest and no deviation is acceptable.